Weighing meter



Aug'. 17 1926. I 1,596,472 J. s. L. wHARToN, JR

WEIGHING METER Filed Dec. 26.41922.-` 2 sheets-sheet 1 /NVENTOR 51.11/ i] l 52./ fff f ATTORNEYV Aug.. 17 1926.

J. s. L. wHRToN. .1R

WEIGHI NG METER Filed Dec. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT ,o'FFici-z.)

f JOSEPH S. L. WHABTON, JR., 0F MEADOWBROOK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORTO GOCHBANE CORPORATION, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

WEIGHING METER.

Application led December 26,` 1922. Serial No. 608,916.

The general object ofmy present invention is to provide an improved form of weighing meter of the type in which liquid ,f

to be weighed is passed into a weighing bucket which, when it receives a given my invention is tokprovide a constructiony whereby as the bucket alternately fills and discharges, the center of gravity will shift the bucket relative to the axis about which the bucket tiltsin such manner as to insure definite and positive tilting movements both in the discharge and return directions without subjecting any portion'of the apparatus to undesirable jar or shock.A A further ob]ect of .the invention. is to provide an improved ymounting for the tilting bucket. The invention comprises a bucket of novel s hape, novel revisions for passing the liquid into the ucket, a novel bucket mounting, and special provisions for adjusting the center of gravity of the bucket. y

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with articularity in the claims annexed to and orming a partV of this speciiication. For a better understanding of the invention, however, and of its advantages and specific objects attained with it, reference 'should be had to the accompanying drawings andl descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation with parts broken awayand in section; g

Fi 2 is an elevation taken at right an les to Fig. 1 with parts broken away an in section; Y v

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a view taken similarly to Fig: 1, but on a larger scale, and showin a'portion onl of the apparatus shown in ig. 1;

5, 6, 7, 8 andi). are diagrammatic elevations showine the bucket rin different positions occupiedab it in operation; i

ig. 10 is an en elevation of the spout through which liquid is supplied to ythe bucket; and

Fig. 11 is an elevation in section of a p0rtion of a bucket of modified construction.

In the forms of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the weighing mechanism 'proper is arranged in the compartment A of a casing, and the liquid to beweighed passes to the weighing mechanism through a spout B from a receiving compartment A. The weighing mechanism proper, comprises a tiltingbucket C which is mounted on ar tilting frame of U shape which is provided with knife edge pivots D resting on suitable bearing members or anvils E which are'supported by brackets A2 secured to the'y side walls of the compartment A. D3 andr D4 are bolts mounted in the .brackets A2 and forming adjustable stops limiting the tilting movement of the frame D. As the bucket C fills up with liquid, it is prevented from tilting on the support'D prior to the time n when it receives the desired Weight of liquid by means of a catch part in the form of a roller C mounted'on the bucket C and a r,latch member or locking dog F pivoted at F in a bracket A3 4secured to the top wall of the compartment A. The latch or dog F comprises a cup shaped member f which is threaded on the pivoted. body of the latch and advantageously may have its closed end case hardened. y The surface of the member f,which directly engages the roller stop C normally lies in an approximately vertical lane. By rotating the part f the ettective ength of the latch may be adjusted. Vhen the proper weight of liquid has accumulated inthe bucket C, the weight of the latter overba-lances the weights D2 carried by the frame D, and the latter turns in a counter clockwise direction about its pivotal axis to bring the roller C below the end of the dog yF, whereupon the bucket C tilts from the receiving position shown in Fig. 1, vinto the discharge position shown in Fig. 6 and empties, after which the bucket returns to its receiving position.

The bucket C may be described as trough or scoop shaped, C2 representngjone u per side edge of the trough, or back edge o the scoop, and C3 representing the other upper side or discharlge edge of the troueh or scoop.- The en er cheek pieces C7 closing Cil the ends of the trough or scoop, extend above the side edges C2 and C3 of the trough when the latter is in its receiving position7 and as shown have secured to them hub-like parts G. Mounted in the parts G is a shaft which is held against turning in the hub parts by pins G2. Secured t'o the outer ends of the shaft 7L b v pins l-l, are rollers H which rest upon bearing parts carried one by each of the two legs of the frame D. To insure parallelism at all times between the axis of movement of the bucket C relative to the frame D. and the axis of movement of tho frame D relative to the bearings E, a spur gear l is secured to the outer 'end of each roller H, with its teeth in mesh with a rack gear Z carried by the framey D and connectedyas shown, to the bearing parts CZ. The pitch circles of the gears I should be of the same diameter as the rollers l- Mounted in. and forming a part of the bucket C is what I call a detainer J. The latter as shown in Figs. le) comprises a body portion in the form of a segment of a hollow cylinder which is co-axial with the shaft 71., and is secured at its ends to the end portions of the bucket proper. At one edge J of the cylindrical body of the detainer J, the latter is formed with an outwardly extending lip or liange J The bucket C, and the detainer J may advantageously be formed out of sheet iron or steel, with the ends of the body portion of the bucket or scoop proper, and the ends of the detainer J welded to the bucket end or cheek pieces CT. The spout B extends into the detainer J through the space between its edges J and J3. The end walls of the spout B are notched as indicated at B3, to tit over the shaft 71.., and the side walls of the spout are shaped so that the lower edge B2 of the front side wall, and the lower edge B of the rear side walls of the spout are located well to the right hand side of the shaft H as seen in Fig. 1. In consequence liquid delivered by the spout B is always first received in the detainer J and overflows from the latter into the bucket C proper.

rhe center of gravity of the bucket C may be adjusted by means'of weights K carried by levers L secured to the end or cheek pieces of the bucket, provisions being made for adjusting the levers L with respect to the bucket angularly about the s iaft 7L, and for adjusting the weights K longitudinally of the levers L. l

ln Figs. l and ii the bucketis shown in the position which it occupies when containing nearly but not quite the entire amount of liquid which it is intended to receive before tilting and ldischarging. ln this position of the apparatus the liquid extends toward the trough edge C3, to a distance to the right of the bucket axis appreciably gratter than the distance to the left of the axis of any portion of the liquid in the bucket, and the center of gravity of the bucket and its contents is well to the rightof the axis of the shaft It, and the roller stop C bears against. the end of the dog F. The parts remain in this position until the weight of the liquid held in the bucket is suiiicicnt to tilt the frame D in the counter clockwise direction far enough to permit the stop AC to pass out of operative.

engagement with the dog F. rIhe position yof the apparatusi at that instant is shown in Fig. 5. The bucket then tilts into the position shown in Fig. G, discharging the liquid contents of the bucket over the discharge edge C3, after which the bucket returns to the position shown in F ig. i', the bucket being balanced to swing into the last mentioned position when empty. lVhile the bucket is turning from the Aposition shown in Fig. 5 through that of Fig. G and into that shown in Fig. 7, liquid aecuni'ulates in the retainer F, and when the bucket is in the posit-ion shown in Fig. T this liquidovertiows into the bucket C proper, and initially collects in the pocket-like portion C'i of the bucket 4which is located to the left Vof the portion of the bucket side extending between the line represented by the point CG and the discharge edge C3. To prevent the liquid discharging into the bucket proper at this time from being carried by its momentum past the upper edge C of the pocket C", a baille Cj may advantageously be provided in the bucket as shown to receive and diminish velocit); of the liquid discharged into the bucket from the. retainer.

The liquid held in the bucket when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. T, has its center of gravity well to the lett of the axis of the shaft 71.. As the amount ofpliquid thus held increases, the center of gravity of the bucket shifts in a clockwise direction about lthe axis of the shaft 71.. and thereby causes the bucket to turn slowlyand gradually in a counter clockwise direction through the position shown in Fig. S, into that shown in Fig. 9. Movement in the counter clockwise direction hej-:ond the position of Fig. 9 may be positively prcvented in any suitable manner. s by the engagement of the upper edge J:E of the retarder J with the adjacent side of the spout B. ln the position shown in Fig. 8. the roller stop C is shown passing uiider the dog` F which lifts to permit this. In the yposition shown in Fig. 9 the roller stop C is appreciably to the loft of the dog F. The apparatus may be designed and proportioned so that the bucket will turn into the position shown in Fig. 9 when somethin!! like two-thirds filled. As the liquid in the bucket 'C thereafter continues to increase. the center Vof gravity of the bucket graduallll() ria ly shifts back in a counter clockwise direction to the right ofthe axis of the shaft h, thus returnin the bucket to y,the final filling position s 'own in Figs. I ad 4, in which the roller Cengages the dog; .7' `This occurs before the bucket receives' its full charge, and whenthe latter is received, the center of gravity of the bucket is well to the right of the axis ofthe shaft h, so that when the roller C asses under the dog F, the bucket swings y gravity into the discharging position.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus shown possesses any important advantage over apparatus of a generally similar character heretofore known, in that the changes in the location of the center of gravit of the bucket and its contents as the buc et fills and empties, insures a positive discharge movement, and a positive return movement of the bucket from the position shown in Fig. 7 into that shown in Fig. 9, and in that the movement from the position yof Fig. 7 into that of Fig. 9 and back into the position of Figs. 1 and 4 is a gradual movement, which does not subject the latchin parts C and F` to shock or jar. The specia yform of pivotal mounting for the bucket C on the tiltin frame D is practically frictionless, and avolds wear tending to disturb the accuracy and sensitiveness of the apparatus which has heretofore been a source of annoyance and trouble in apparatus of this character. The provisions for adjusting the bucket weights K both radially and angularly with respect to the bucket axis permit of a very sensitive and easily made adjustment of the center of gravity of the bucket, and of its inertia in the initial calibration of the meter, or to compensate for changes in operating conditions.

The circular curvature of the body of the retainer J about the bucket axis shown in Figs. 1-4, prevents the variable amounts of liquid held in the retainer in the different sta es of operation from affecting the lo-l cation of the center of gravity of the bucket and contents. In lieu of this the retainer ma be shaped as shown in Fig. 11 with the back wall J 5 of the retainer JA there shown so shaped that the liquid held in the retainer will tend to turn the bucket from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7.

Ordinarily a connection is made from the bucket to a suitable counting train or register for recording the number of times the bucket fills and empties but as such parts may be of any usual and well known form for the purpose, I have not thought it necessary to illustrate such parts herein.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that rchanges may beV made in the form of apparatus disclosedy without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in theappended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantagey without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I'claim kas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A liquid meter comprising a measuring bucket, mounted to turn about an axis between final filling .and discharging positions and having its center of gravity so located that the bucket, when empty, will be gravity held out of its final filling position, and having its liquid holding space so disposed that as the bucket gradually fills with liquid, the center of gravity of the bucket and its contents will first shift about said axis gradually in one direction to return the bucket to its final filling position, and will then shift in the opposite direction yabout said axis to thereby give the bucket a tendency to move into the discharge position, and means responsive to the weight of the bucket and its contents preventing movement ofthe bucket from its final filling position into its discharging position when the bucket holds less than a predetermined weight of liquid.

2. yA liquid meter comprising a measuring bucket mounted to turn about an axis back and forth between final filling and discharging positions and formed with a main liquid holding space and with a. separate liquid detaining space into which liquid entering the meter is first received and from it overflows into said main space, and so shaped that its liquid holding capacity is increased as the bucket moves out of its final filling position toward its discharge position and the accumulation of liquid therein kwhen its holding capacity is thus increased tends to move the bucket from its discharge position toward its final filling position.

3. A liquid meter comprising a measuring bucket mounted to turn about an axis back and forth between final filling and discharge positions, uprising arms secured to the ends of the bucket by bolt and slot connecting means permitting they adjustment of said arms yangularly about the bucket axis, and Calibrating weights supported by said arms, and provisions for connecting said weights to said arms with the weight-s at different distance from the bucket axis.

4. In .a liquid meter comprising a measuring bucket adapted to turn about an axis back and forth between final filling and discharging positions, the improved bucket mounting comprising a supportingvframe provided with a horizontally disposed bearing surface at eac-h end of the bucke` and rollers carried by the bue ret at its ends which rest on said bearing surfaces.

5. A liquid meter comprising a measuring bucket adapted to turn about an axis back and 'forth between linal filling and discharging' positions, the improved bucket mounting comprising a supporting frame provided with a .horizontally disposed bearing' surface and a raol: gear at each end of the bucket, and a roller and a spur .gear at each end of the buck-et secured to the latter, and respectively resting upon and in Inesh with the corresponding bearing surface and rack gear.

Signed at Philadelphia in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania this 6th day of December A. D. 1922.

JOSEPH S. L. WHARTON, J R. 

